Nadal Coach Eyes 2020 Glory

Gold Usenekong

3 months ago

Rafa Nadal can stay at the top of tennis for several more years and star at the 2020 Olympics, according to his coach Carlos Moya. The world number one is now 32 but is not showing any signs of slowing down and is expected to be battling for the sport’s biggest prizes for some time yet.

The Tokyo Olympics in two years’ time remain a future target for Nadal as he looks to claim his third gold medal, to add to the singles tournament he won in 2008 in Beijing and the doubles gold he achieved alongside Marc Lopez in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Moya expects him to stay in good condition to compete for the foreseeable future.
“It would be a surprise if Nadal did not make it to the 2020 Olympics,” he told El Espanol.
“We are talking about a player who 10 years ago was at the top and right now is still there. The rivals know you, new ones appear, the physical capacities are not the same as those at 20. He has adapted very well.

“I have always had a lot of faith in him because I know what he is capable of. The only doubt was the injuries, that some would turn him away (from the sport).
“Seven years ago it was not so normal for this to happen, but now there are many tennis players playing at their best in very late ages. I have always thought the same thing: that tennis would not remove Rafa and it would be Rafa who would retire from tennis.”

Nadal will hope to add to his 17 Grand Slam singles titles when he competes as the defending champion at the US Open, which gets underway on Monday.